Solenoid-operating mechanism



R. CLASSEN SOLENOID OPERATING MECHANISM Aug., 26, 1924.' 1,506,409

'Filed Sept. 7. 1923 Inventor". Richard Cla'ssen, by

' His Attorny.

Patented Aug. .'26,l 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFlCE.

RICHARD CLASSN, 0F SCHENEGTDY, NEW YORK, ASSGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRC COMPANY, A COREORATION OF NEVJ YORK.

SOLENOTD-OPERATING TJIEHANSM.

To all 'whom it may concer/1t:

Be it known that I, R101-IARD CLAssnN, a.

and State of New York, have invented certain new and uselul lmprovements in Solef 'noid-(lperating Mechanisms, ofwhich the Iii) following' is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches ot the solenoid operated type.

Vhere switches of thistype having relatively large capacity have been constructed with a plurality of operating solenoids arranged side by side, each solenoid heretofore has been provided with its own toggle and tripping mechanism. Diiiiculties have arisen with switches so constructed due in the .most part to the'a-ilure otf the several toggle and tripping mechanisms to 'function in synchronismatter the switch has been for sometime in actual service. lThe oln ieri: ot the present invention is to provide an improved and simplified switch operating and controlling mechanism, and one which shall not be subject to the aforesaid ditliculties.

.invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying specifica tion and drawingsand its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. l is a view partly in section of an cil switch vand the operative `mechanism therefor involving' my invention, the switch bei] gj in its closed position.

Fig. 2 is a top view oi the solenoid mech anism shown in F l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of the solenoid mechanism and ripping devices when the switch is in open position, and

el is another fragmentary view of the tripping devices, as in Fig. l, but drawn to a still larger scale.

llelierring'to the drawing l represents an oil switch of the downward break type hav ing a pair of stationary contacts 2 and 3 which are engaged by a pair ot movable contacts carried at opposite ends ot' a cross arm l. rlllhe arm 4- is raised and lowered to operate the switch by means ot a rod 5 which is pivoted to the. end of a lever 6. This lever is operatively connected to the push rod 8 by means of a bellcrank 7, rod 9 and toggle links 9, the latter being underset when the switch is closed and held in that position by other toggle mechanism to be described later.

rhe torce `for operating the switch is furnished hy tour soleuoids l0., ll. l2 and 13 arranged in two grou ps. each comprising 'two solenoids in tandem as shown. .Rach solenoid is provided with the usual core section lil and with the plunger and the two plungers oil the solenoids forming a group are joined together by a push rodl. rlhe upper portion of each push rod 16 passes through the trame l? and is provided with a head 18 between which and the trame is a comparatively heavy coil si ring l). nt opposite ends ot the me l? are biturcated supports 2O and 2l for carrying the two main operating levers 2Q and 23, respectively. The former is pivoted directly to the support. Q0 while the latter is pivotcd to the support 2l, through a link 2l in order to allow it to have the necessary l fritudinal movement. vlleve/r is provided with a socket at its outer end to detachably receive a handle bv which the switch may be manually operated.

rlhe levers 22 and 28 are pivoted together at their adjacent ends, and by the saine pivot pin are connected to the lower end of the rod 8. lilach lever also carries a roller 2T against which bears the head 18 ot the push rod i6 when the switch is being closed.

Toggle links 2S and 29 connect the pin joining' the levers and 23 with a shatt- 3() journalled in the frame li'. Lower link 29 and crank 3l made tast to the shalt 30, pivot pin at the outer end ot the crank being in alignment with the pin connecting together the toggle links n?) and E29. A spring 32 is tensioned bctwecn'this latter pin and the pin joining the ends ot levers 22 and 23, the opening at the upper end ot link 28 being somewhat elongated to provide a resilient lost motion connection al. this poinnt to relieve the strain, or shock, on the toggle upon closing the switch.

lVhen the switch is closed, as shown by Fig. l, buckling ot the toggle links 28 and 29 'is prevented vby another toggle comprising` links 84- and 35, the former having an extension provided with a. roller. This roller, as seen more clearly in Fig. 4l, hooks under a catch 37 which is pivoted at 3S to a rocking,` member 89. This member is pivotally supported, as shown on the trame 17, being positively rest-rained from movement Elfi in a clockwise direction by a foot 40 and. being resiliently restrained from movement in the opposite direction by a spring 41. A latch 427 pivotally mounted on member 39 engages a portion of the catch 37 to hold the same in a position to retain the roller on the extension of link 34. The stem 43 of an auxiliary solenoid enclosed in a housing 44 raises the tail of the latch 42 when the solenoid is energized to release the catch 3T, thus tripping open the switch. A post 45 limits the downward movement of the link 85 when the switch is being closed.

From the above description it will be apparent that when the switch is closed, the parts being in the position illustrated by Fig. l, an upward movement of the stem 43 ot' the auxiliary solenoid will release the latch 42, permitting the catch 37 to rotate suiliciently to release the roller carried by the end ot toggle link 34. Buckling of this toggle in turn permits togglelinks 28 and 29 to buckle and the levers 22 and y23, together with the push rod 8, to drop whence the switch opens. The parts then assume the position shown in Fig. 3. The springs 19 function to cushion the downward movement ot the plungers l5 when the solenoids are deenergized.

Closing ot the swith is etlected by the energization et the solenoids l0, 1l, i2 and lil, whereupon the plunger rods lli, in.. ascending, rock the levers 22 andr 23 to raise the push rod 8. by given to the cross-arm 4 ycarrying the movable iswitch contacts through the intervening mechanism shown. As the toggle links 34 and 35 move toward their straightcned position during the closing movement et' the switch, the roller on the end of link 34 rolls down the inclined upper portion of the member 39, causing the member to rock against the spring 4l until the roller passes over the point of the catch 37, clockwise movement of the catch 37 being prevented by a stop shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

lVhile I have described only one embodiment et my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the particular Jform shown and described as Vit will be apparent that many modifications therein may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

lhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the United States, is :-a

l. In an electric switch, a plurality yot solenoids, a lever adapted to be actuated by each ot said solenoids, means for connecting Upward movement is theretogether corresponding portions `of said levers, and a tripping mechanism operatively connected to said means to control the movement of said levers in one direction.

2. In an electric switch, a plurality of solenoids each having a plunger, a lever for each of said solenoids adapted to be moved in one direction by the corresponding plunger, means operatively connecting said levers together, and a single tripping mechanism for controlling the moven'ient of said levers in theiopposite direction.

3. In an electric switch a frame, a pair of solenoids secured side by side thereto, a pair ofsinter-connected levers mounted on said frame and each adapted to be actuated by tone ofsaidv solenoids, a switch contact op-. erating rod operatively connected to said levers, and a single tripping mechanism also operatively connected to said levers.

4. In an electric switch, a frame, a pair of solenoids secured thereto, a plunger and an operating rod for each of said solenoids, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said frame each adapted to be engaged by one of said operating rods, a pin connecting together said levers, a toggle mechanism between said pin and said frame, vand means for releasing said toggle mechanism.

5. Inan electric switch having a movable switch contact, a frame, a pair of oppositely arranged levers fulcrumed on said frame, a solenoid for each ot said levers, means connecting corresponding ends ol' said levers, means operatively connecting said switch contact with said first means, and a single releasable toggle mechanisn'i between ysaid first means. and said frame.

6. In an eiectrlc switch having a sta tionary contact` and a cooperating movable contact biased to open circuit position,.a frame., a pair of solenoids arranged side by side and secured to said frame, a plunger for each of said solenoids having a rod extending through said frame, a lever for each of said solenoids each adapted to be actuated by one of said rods, a pin connecting together corresponding ends of said levers, a connection between said pin and said movable contact, a toggle mechanism between said connecting pin and said frame, and a tripping device for releasing said toggle mechanism to permit said movable contact to return to open circuit position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto setmy hand this .6th day of September, 1923.

RICHARD CLASSEN'. 

